Post-winder and wire-fastener



(No Model.)

C. L. ETHERIDGE. POSI WINDER YAND WIRE FASTENIIR.`

No. 573,771. Patented Dec. 22, 1896.

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POST-WINDER AND WIRE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 573,771, dated December 22, 1896.

Application filed October 31, 1896. Serial No. 610,650. (No model.)

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Be it known that I, CARROL LAFAYETTE ETHERIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peryear, in the county of Henry and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Post-Winders and Fasteners for the Tires of Fences, of which the following is a specification.

The purpose of my improvement is to provide an effective and permanent tightener and tie device for tightening and securing the wires of fences to the posts. In bores in the post of each section of the fence small tubes are driven for each wire strand, and the wire is passed around the tube at one end into a slot therein through the tube and terminates in a tie in a slot at the other end of the tube, making a tie at both ends of the latter at opposite sides of the post. Into the slots at each end of the tube the wire, after having been drawn taut in the fence-section, is bent so that it cannot slip, and the slots for the wire serve as the means for receiving fastenings for the slotted tubes to the post, whereby the strands are stretched and permanently secured to each end of a tube, which in turn is fastened at the opposite sides of the post, and there is no strain on the tube tending to force it out of its bore in the post.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown in Figure l a section having my improved strand-tightener and tie device. Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views of the strand-tightener and tie device, taken vertically and horizontally through the post to more clearly show the manner of tying the wire to each end of the tube at opposite sides of the post and securing the tube to the post; and Fig.

4 shows the opposite sides of the post and the' open-ended slotted tube therein.

The wires are twisted and nailed to the section-post l, to one side of which they are stapled and also stapled to the intermediate post. The other post 2 of the fence-section has bores corresponding in number and position to the strands of the fence. For this bored post tubes 3 are provided of a length sufficient to project, when driven into the bores, at the opposite sides of the post. The

tubes have slots t at each end formed in the opposite walls, and the tubular area need only be sufficient to allow the wires to pass freely through the tubes. The strands are stapled to this bored post on a line with one side of the corresponding tube, and each strand is passed around one end of its tube and through the slot in one side (the upper or the lower) thereof, thence through the tube,

and terminating in a tie in the slot at thev other end of the tube, thereby forming a double tie for each wire on the opposite ends of a tube at the opposite sides of the post.

The tie around the tube and within its slot makes the tube a Winder for the strand, while the tie of the strand Within the slots at both ends of the tube makes a clench-fastening for the Wire to the tube, so that it cannot give while turning the tube to wind and tighten the strand. In this tightening operation the slots which open at each end of the tube serve to form a nick-like head of a wood-screw to receive a screw-driver. The strands having been stretched by turning the tubes they are then permanently fastened by driving nails 5 through the slots, preferably at each end, against the wire and into the post. These nails serve to bind the wire within the slots and against the opposite sides of the post and render certain the firm binding of the tubes within the post-bores and the wires Within the tubes.

The end of the wire is bent around the corner of the post, and partially around the end of the tube, and into the top slot by a sharp bend, is forced through the tube and bent out through the slot therein at the side of the tube. The slots are made in the opposite sides of the tube to allow the, nails, which may be brads, to be driven through the slotsinto the post, and for this purpose the nails are driven diagonally, so that they pass into the post within the loop formed by the bend of the wire around the tube and across the slot at the underside of the tube. At the other end of the tube the nail is driven into the slots against the bent end of the wire, thus making the fastening of the tube and of the wire practically permanent while permitting any one of the Wires to be removed and replaced When required for repair.

The diagonal brace 6 may abut against the post beneath the projecting end of the windin g-tube. Between the posts the wires are connected by vertical wires of different lengths,

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thus providing a smooth wire felice braced so that it cannot be opened by hogs or other animals.

The slotted tubes can be made as articles of manufacture and sold as Wire stretchers and fasteners for Wire fences, and they can be driven int-o post-bores and the posts sent to the field ready to be grounded and to receive the Wires. I prefer to fasten the slotted tubes and Wires to both sides of the post, but such fastening may be only at one side of the post, and the Wires can be passed easily through the tubes and fastened to them at each end by the nails, which fasten the tubes and bind them at both ends Within the post.

I claiml. In a Wire fence, a fastening' for the wire strands consisting of a tube for each strand, having slotted ends, the slots opening at the ends of the tube, as a means whereby the fence-strands may be fastened to the post, stretched and secured at the opposite sides of the post, Within the tube.

2. A fastener and Winder for the Wires of a wire felice, the body of which is tubular and provided at each end with slots, in its opposite Walls, and open at the ends.

3. The combination of apost, a series of tubular Winders secured in bores, slotted at each end and projecting at opposite'sides of the post, with Wire strands engaging both ends of the tubes, and nails engaging the slotted ends of the Winders and driven into the post l Yengaging' and fastening to both ends of the tubes, and suitable means for fastening the tubes to the post through the slots of the tube binding them at both ends to the post.

CRROL LAFAYETTE ETIIERIDGE.

\Vitnesses:

JNO. L. IVALKER, J. F. ROBERTS.

Correction in Letters Patent No. 573,771.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 573,771, granted December 22, 1896, upon the application of Carrol Lafayette Etheridge, of Peryear, Tennessee, the title of the invention was erroneously Written and printed Post-'Winders and Wire- Fasteners, Whereas the said title should have been Written and printed Post- Wtnders and mreFaseners for Wire Fences; and that the said Letters Patent should be read With this correction therein that the saine may conform to the record of the case in the VPatent Oice.

Signed, eountersigned, and sealed this 5th day of January, A. D., 1897.

JNO. M. REYNOLDS, Assistant Secretaryl of the Interior.

[SEAL] Conntersigned JOHN S. SEYMOUR,

Commissioner of Patents. 

